There is a link between abuse of animals and violence towards humans.
We want to break that link.
Young people who are exposed to animal abuse are five times more likely to suffer severe problems in later life. With more young people being exposed to animal abuse online and on social media, we need to take action to prevent them from being exposed to this.
We're calling for:
- Animal welfare education to be a core part of the education curriculum in Scotland
- Parents, guardians and professionals working with young people to spot the signs of animal abuse or potential animal abuse and get support for the young people they help
300
Over 300 young people have been referred to our Animal Guardians programme for specialised one-to-one support.
86%
The percentage of people in Scotland who believe animal welfare education should be compulsory in the national curriculum.
80,000
Over 80,000 young people benefited from Animal WISE, our free education programme, in 2022.
We’ve helped to author and co-edit a book on this critical issue.
Understanding Animal Abuse and How to Intervene With Children and Young People is an accessible guide and toolkit for professionals like social workers, vets and everyone who works with people and animals.